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“Air pollution needs to be combated with efforts at all levels”
Healthy Soch
New Delhi, March 05, 2019:
The burning of agricultural residue — a contributor to north India’s winter pollution — increases the risk of respiratory illnesses threefold for those who experience it. It may also be responsible for an annual $30 billion (approximately ₹2 trillion) loss in terms of days of work lost in states affected by crop burning, according to a study by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
The research has found that living in an area where crop burning is practiced was a leading risk factor for respiratory disease in northern India. Whereas the total burden of diseases from air pollution declined between 1990 and 2016 due to efforts to reduce the burning of solid fuel for household use, outdoor air pollution increased by 16.6%.
Speaking about this, Padma Shri Awardee, Dr KK Aggarwal, President, HCFI, said, “Whenever we talk of air pollution, suspended particulate matter or PM as it is commonly referred to, is generally taken as representative of the level of pollution. In all there are eight air quality parameters, which are taken into consideration when the Air Quality Index (AQI) is calculated: Suspended particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ozone (O3), nitrogen oxides (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), ammonia (NH3) and lead (Pb). Particulate matter consists of a complex mixture of solid and liquid particles of organic and inorganic substances suspended in the air. It is mainly made up of sulfates, nitrates, ammonia, sodium chloride, black carbon, mineral dust and water and allergens (fragments of pollen or mold spores). When outdoor levels of particulate matter are high, their levels also increase indoors.”
According to the WHO, nine out of 10 people breathe air containing high levels of pollutants and around 7 million people die every year from exposure to fine particles in polluted air.
Adding further, Dr Aggarwal, who is also the Group Editor-in-Chief of IJCP, said, “The larger PM 10 particles can irritate the eyes, nose and throat. PM10 mainly affects the respiratory system and may precipitate an acute asthma attack and acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis or may cause other respiratory problems such as cough, wheeze. The fine and ultra-fine particles also affect the heart so they may trigger an acute cardiovascular event such as heart attack or stroke or atrial fibrillation as they increase the resting blood pressure due to sympathetic overactivity and cause endothelial dysfunction and thickening of the blood. PM 2.5 and PM 0.1 particles also have a greater association with increased mortality due to heart disease.”
Some tips from HCFI
- Exercise well as it will help your lungs to function to their full potential. Do exercises that will make you breath fast to ensure healthy lungs.
- Avoid smoking as it reduces lung function and is a major factor leading to COPD.
- Eat healthy and food that is rich in omega 3 fatty acids such as fish and nuts for healthy lungs.
- Avoid exposure to air pollution as it can damage the lungs and make it more prone to infections and diseases. Ensure that you dust furniture frequently and make your home a smoke-free zone.
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